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for her own circulation。 The Scots； not content with their own
manufactures and produce； which would very well answer all
necessary occasions； seem to vie with each other in purchasing
superfluities from England； such as broad…cloth； velvets； stuffs；
silks； lace； furs； jewels； furniture of all sorts； sugar； rum；
tea； chocolate and coffee； in a word； not only every mode of the
most extravagant luxury； but even many articles of convenience；
which they might find as good； and much cheaper in their own
country。 For all these particulars； I conceive； England may touch
about one million sterling a…year。 I don't pretend to make an
exact calculation； perhaps； it may be something less； and
perhaps； a great deal more。 The annual revenue arising from all
the private estates of Scotland cannot fall short of a million
sterling； and； I should imagine； their trade will amount to as
much more。 I know the linen manufacture alone returns near half
a million； exclusive of the home…consumption of that article。
If； therefore； North…Britain pays a ballance of a million
annually to England； I insist upon it； that country is more
valuable to her in the way of commerce； than any colony in her
possession； over and above the other advantages which I have
specified： therefore； they are no friends； either to England or
to truth； who affect to depreciate the northern part of the
united kingdom。'
I must own； I was at first a little nettled to find myself
schooled in so many particulars。 Though I did not receive all
his assertions as gospel； I was not prepared to refute them； and
I cannot help now acquiescing in his remarks so far as to
think； that the contempt for Scotland； which prevails too much on
this side the Tweed； is founded on prejudice and error。 After
some recollection； 'Well； captain （said I）； you have argued
stoutly for the importance of your own country： for my part； I
have such a regard for our fellow…subjects of North…Britain； that
I shall be glad to see the day； when your peasants can afford to
give all their oats to their cattle； hogs； and poultry； and
indulge themselves with good wheaten loaves； instead of such
poor； unpalatable； and inflammatory diet。' Here again I brought
my self into a premunire with the disputative Caledonian。 He said
he hoped he should never see the common people lifted out of that
sphere for which they were intended by nature and the course of
things； that they might have some reason to complain of their
bread； if it were mixed； like that of Norway； with saw dust and
fish…bones； but that oatmeal was； he apprehended； as nourishing
and salutary as wheat…flour； and the Scots in general thought it
at least as savoury。 He affirmed； that a mouse； which； in the
article of self…preservation； might be supposed to act from
infallible instinct； would always prefer oats to wheat； as
appeared from experience； for； in a place where there was a
parcel of each； that animal has never begun to feed upon the
latter till all the oats were consumed： for their nutritive
quality； he appealed to the hale； robust constitutions of the
people who lived chiefly upon oatmeal； and； instead of being
inflammatory； he asserted； that it was a cooling sub…acid；
balsamic and mucilaginous； insomuch； that in all inflammatory
distempers； recourse was had to water…gruel； and flummery made of
oatmeal。
'At least （said I）； give me leave to wish them such a degree of
commerce as may enable them to follow their own inclinations。'
'Heaven forbid！ （cried this philosopher）。 Woe be to that nation；
where the multitude is at liberty to follow their own
inclinations！ Commerce is undoubtedly a blessing； while
restrained within its proper channels； but a glut of wealth
brings along with it a glut of evils： it brings false taste；
false appetite； false wants； profusion； venality； contempt of
order； engendering a spirit of licentiousness； insolence； and
faction； that keeps the community in continual ferment； and in
time destroys all the distinctions of civil society； so that
universal anarchy and uproar must ensue。 Will any sensible man
affirm； that the national advantages of opulence are to be sought
on these terms？' 'No； sure； but I am one of those who think；
that； by proper regulations； commerce may produce every national
benefit； without the allay of such concomitant evils。'
So much for the dogmata of my friend Lismahago； whom I describe
the more circumstantially； as I firmly believe he will set up his
rest in Monmouthshire。 Yesterday； while I was alone with him he
asked； in some confusion； if I should have any objection to the
success of a gentleman and a soldier； provided he should be so
fortunate as to engage my sister's affection。 I answered without
hesitation； that my sister was old enough to judge for
herself； and that I should be very far from disapproving any
resolution she might take in his favour。 His eyes sparkled at
this declaration。 He declared； he should think himself the
happiest man on earth to be connected with my family； and that he
should never be weary of giving me proofs of his gratitude and
attachment。 I suppose Tabby and he are already agreed； in which
case； we shall have a wedding at Brambleton…hall； and you shall
give away the bride。 It is the least thing you can do； by way
of atonement for your former cruelty to that poor love…sick
maiden； who has been so long a thorn in the side of
Yours；
MATT。 BRAMBLE
Sept。 20。
We have been at Buxton； but； as I did not much relish either the
company or the accommodations； and had no occasion for the water；
we stayed but two nights in the place。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； Bart。 of Jesus college； Oxon。
DEAR WAT；
Adventures begin to thicken as we advance to the southward。
Lismahago has now professed himself the admirer of our aunt； and
carries on his addresses under the sanction of her brother's
approbation； so that we shall certainly have a wedding by
Christmas。 I should be glad you was present at the nuptials； to
help me throw the stocking； and perform other ceremonies peculiar
to that occasion。 I am sure it will be productive of some
diversion； and； truly； it would be worth your while to come
across the country on purpose to see two such original figures in
bed together； with their laced night caps； he； the emblem of good
cheer； and she； the picture of good nature。 All this agreeable
prospect was clouded； and had well nigh vanished entirely； in
consequence of a late misunderstanding between the future
brothers…in…law； which； however； is now happily removed。
A few days ago； my uncle and I； going to visit a relation； met
with lord Oxmington at his house； who asked us to dine with him；
next day； and we accepted the invitation。 Accordingly； leaving
our women under the care of captain Lismahago； at the inn where
we had lodged the preceding night； in a little town； about a mile
from his lordship's dwelling； we went at the hour appointed； and
had a fashionable meal served up with much ostentation to a
company of about a dozen persons； none of whom he had ever seen
before。 His lordship is much more remarkable for his pride and
caprice； than for his hospitality and understanding； and； indeed；
it appeared； that he considered his guests merely as objects to
shine upon； so as to reflect the lustre of his own magnificence
There was much state； but no courtesy； and a great deal of
compliment without any conversation。 Before the desert was
removed； our noble entertainer proposed three general toasts；
then calling for a glass of wine； and bowing all round； wished us
a good afternoon。 This was the signal for the company to break
up； and they obeyed it immediately； all except our 'squire who
was greatly shocked at the manner of this dismission He changed
countenance； bit his lip in silence； but still kept his seat； so
that his lordship found himself obliged to give us another hint；
by saying； he should be glad to see us another time。 'There is no
time like the present （cried Mr Bramble）； your lordship has not
yet drank a bumper to the best in Christendom。' 'I'll drink no
more bumpers to…day （answered our landlord）； and I am sorry to
see you have drank too many。 Order the gentleman's carriage to
the gate。' So saying； he rose and retired abruptly； our 'squire
starting up at the same time； laying his hand upon his sword； and
eyeing him with a most ferocious aspect。 The master having
vanished in this manner； our uncle bad one of the servants to see
what was to pay； and the fellow answering； 'This is no inn；' 'I
cry you mercy （cried the other）； I perceive it is not； if it
were； the landlord would be more civil。 There's a guinea；
however； take it； and tell your lord； that I shall riot leave the
country till I have had the opportunity to thank him in person
for his politeness and hospitality。'
We then walked down stairs through a double range of lacqueys；
and getting into the chaise； proceeded homewards。 Perceiving the
'squire much ruffled； I ventured to disapprove of his resentment；
observing； that as lord Oxmington was well known to have his
brain very ill timbered； a sensible man should rather laugh； than
be angry at his ridiculous want of breeding。